Clinical Social Worker
MFT-R at
Wellness Through Counseling
McLean, Virginia, 22101
About:
People are my passion! I have been extremely honored to witness extraordinary healing, growth and positive change of persons I served as a volunteer, intern, and professional working in diverse settings in the U.S. and overseas. From preschool to prison, homes, hospital and beyond, I am always excited to meet a new person to walk alongside for a while in their journey of growth and exploration.
I believe the stories we tell about ourselves are powerful. My job is to support persons in the amazing process of authoring themselves. I use strengths-based approaches to individual, couples, family, and group therapy. Relationships are a focus of my work, especially romantic relationships, parent-child and sibling relationships.
Education:
I hold a BA in psychology with a minor in English literature from Mary Baldwin University, and an MS in human development and family science, specializing in marriage and family therapy, from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. As a recent graduate in marriage and family therapy (MFT), I am eager to use my evolving expertise in family systems to do what I have always done -- help people grow, heal, and reach their goals.
Experience:
I joined Wellness through Counseling in 2020 as a resident in marriage and family therapy under the supervision of Salma Abugideiri, LPC. Since starting clinical work in couples and family therapy in 2018, I have served individuals, couples, families and groups through internships with the Center for Family Services in Falls Church, Virginia, Together Program for couples psychoeducation workshops in Northern Virginia, and Mary’s Center community mental health clinics in Washington, D.C.
Before launching my career in couples and family therapy, I used applied behavior analysis (ABA) to support family relationships, verbal language acquisition and prosocial behaviors through intensive at-home therapy settings working with families of children with autism spectrum disorder. Turning time back even further, while living overseas, I collaborated with several awesome women to form a non-profit organization called Programs for Achieving Community Ties (PACT), where I organized a clinical referral network, ran social support groups, and directed community-based crisis intervention services to enrich the lives of English-speaking expatriate families.
Professional Strengths and Interests:
My biggest strength as a post-constructionist therapist is openness to new possibilities, meanings, and connections. I have special interest and skillsets working with couples and families living with chronic illness and disablement experiences. My graduate thesis explored family resilience and launching with chronic illness and invisible disability. I am also highly interested in trauma-informed care, and have been successful working with complex childhood trauma histories.
Approach to Therapy:
I integrate experiential, here-and-now techniques like play and enactments with insight and skill-based techniques to co-create a personalized platform of self-exploration, growth and connection for each individual, couple or family I meet. I constantly learn and adapt as a therapist, utilizing ongoing research and proven evidenced-based practices to support each unique therapeutic journey. I wonder what new story we might create together!
Fees
50 Minute Session: $115
90 Minute Session: $160
Publication:
Please feel free to read my open-access thesis “Parent-Child Dyadic Experiences Living with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) during Emerging Adulthood” at the following link: http://hdl.handle.net/10919/98006
Children:
I currently see children 12-years-old and younger (0-12) and their families at Crossroads Family Counseling and through The Heart Leaf Center under the supervision of Sheri Mitchelen, LCSW, RPT-S. When I work with young children, I use an integration of play therapy withother models, according to the needs and goals of the child and family. Please feel welcome to reach out for child and family therapy in this age range at those service locations:
https://theheartleafcenter.org/
https://crossroadsfamilycounselingcenter.com/
